YOM TERUAH – FEAST of TRUMPETS
The Mo’edim: Yom Teruah
These are the holy days HASHEM gives to us to celebrate Him, commemorate His works, and to set times and seasons for life and redemption. The Fall Holy Days include Yom Teruah; Day of Trumpets, Yom Kippur; Day of Atonement, and Sukkot – Feast of Booths or Tabernacles. Each Holy Day is to be observed by all who choose to enjoin themselves to YHWH and choose to do His commandments.
This teaching is designed to look at this mo’ed of YHWH, Yom Teruah in a very brief and concise way. The questions we will address in this teaching are What is Yom Teruah?, Who commanded that we observe it?. Who is required to observe it? and What does it signal or point to in terms of the soon coming redemption? Also where did the term Rosh Hashanah come from?
What is Yom Teruah? Who commanded us to observe this festival?
Sounding the alarm. It is a call to teshuvah, which is repentance and turning.
Simply put, Yom Teruah is translated Day of Trumpets. We can refer to Leviticus 23; 23-25 which reads as follows:
Fall Holy Days
23 Adonai spoke to Moses saying: 24 “Speak to Bnei-Yisrael, saying: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you are to have a Shabbat rest, a memorial of blowing (shofarot),[e] a holy convocation. 25 You are to do no regular work, and you are to present an offering made by fire to Adonai.” (TLV)
From the above reference we learn that 1. Yom Teruah is a Shabbat, 2. It is a day of rest. 3. It is a holy day. 4. On this day we are to do no regular work and 5. are to present an offering.
Who is to observe this holy day? B’nei Yisrael.
And we, Bnei- Yisrael; The Children of Israel, followers of YHWH, are to observe this mo’edim. However, we also learn that all those who connect themselves to YHWH through Bnei Yisrael are to observe this mo’edim. This instruction includes gentiles who enjoin themselves to YHWH.
Numbers 15:15-16
The community is to have the same rules for you and the alien living among you; this is a lasting
ordinance for the generations to come. You and the alien shall be the same before (YHWH) the
LORD: The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the alien living among
you.’” (TLV)
Most Important. Who commanded that we observe this Holy Day annually? HASHEM! Himself requires that we observe this Holy Day .
23 Adonai spoke to Moses saying: 24 “Speak to Bnei-Yisrael, saying: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you are to have a Shabbat rest, a memorial of blowing (shofarot),[e] a holy convocation.’ This is HASHEM’s command to and for us.
Yom Teruah is the first of the Fall Holy Days or Mo’edim. It is not a feast day, but it is an appointed day. It marks the beginning of the Yamim Nora’im; 10 Days of Awe, that leads to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. On the day of Yom Teruah we sound the shofars. The sounding of the trumpets/shofars warn of a call to battle, the signal to march, or the shout of triumphant joy.
Yom Teruah is not just a time to renew our resolve to lose another fifteen pounds. It’s the time when we are to seriously reflect on our actions and intent of our heart. During this time when our fate stands in the balance, as G‑d reviews our past year and decides whether or not to renew our lease on His planet, we are to judge ourselves by HASHEM’s standards and requirements and repent; do teshuvah. Judge ourselves lest we be judged.
In the latter days, the sound of the trumpet will signal the final redemption and the arrival of the Moshiach/Messiah. May it happen soon and in our days.
Where did the term Rosh HaShannah come from? Why is that term used today to describe Yom Teruah?
To explain the reasoning behind the use of the term Rosh Hashannah for Yom Teruah requires a brief lesson in history. I am thankful for Dr. Nehemiah Gordon, contributor to 119 ministries.com and Chabad.org for their contributions to the concise presentation of this information that can tend to be quite lengthy.
Why Rosh Hashannah?
Today, few people remember the biblical name of Yom Teruah and instead it is widely known as “Rosh
Hashanah” which literally means “head of the year” and hence also “New Years”.The transformation of Yom Teruah (Day of Shouting) into Rosh Hashanah (New Years) is the result of pagan Babylonian influence upon the Jewish nation.
The first phase in the adoption and evolution of these pagan ways was the adoption of the Babylonian
month names.
In the Torah, the months are numbered as First Month, Second Month, Third Month, etc. (Leviticus 23;
Numbers 28).
While the House of Judah, or Jews, were in Babylonia, the usage of pagan Babylonian month names
began, a fact readily admitted in the Talmud:
“The names of the months came up with them from Babylonia.”
(Jerusalem Talmud, Rosh Hashanah 1:2 56d)
Yom Teruah is often called Rosh Hashanah (interchangeably) by Jewish tradition. This Jewish tradition likely derived from Babylon in their worship of false gods and their respective holidays. However, today Rosh Hashanah is traditionally celebrated as the head of the Jewish New Year.
If you would like a more in-depth study on Yom Teruah, Rosh Hashanah from a biblical historical perspective please see the links below.
How do we observe Yom Teruah?
Traditionally we wear white. We light candles and worship with prayers, blessings, songs, Davidic dance, and sounding of the shofar. We conclude our observance with Oneg; which is a fellowship with food consisting of rounded challah bread, apple desserts, apples dipped in honey, as well as other foods.
There you have it, in a nutshell. Should you have any questions or would like more information about Yom Teruah and it’s observance, please feel free to contact us. Our contact information is on the Contact page. Again we extend the invitation to join us for Yom Teruah and if this teaching has been or is a blessing to you please consider subscribing and supporting our mission to teach Torah to all who desire to learn of YHWH and walk in His Ways.
Shalom and Blessings
“Ketivah v’chatima tovah”(כתיבה וחתימה טובה) “A good inscription and sealing [in the Book of Life].”
Reference Links
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+15%3A+15-16&version=TLV
https://www.nehemiahswall.com/yom-teruah-2015
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4644/jewish/Rosh-Hashanah.htm